Health aids & wellness

We might be able to help with some of the costs for Health Aids, depending on your level of Extras cover. This guide includes:

What is sleep apnoea?

This is when the airway in the throat closes during sleep, causing sufferers to wake up in order to breathe – up to hundreds of times a night – and therefore experience very disrupted sleep.

Source: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep-apnoea

What is a CPAP machine?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. These machines maintain air pressure through a mask connected to a pump that is designed to keep the throat airway open.

There are other treatments available, such as custom mouthguards that hold the jaw forward during sleep for mild to moderate sleep apnoea and surgery for when other therapies fail.

What could you claim for CPAP?

  • CPAP machine hire.
  • New CPAP machine purchase.
  • CPAP batteries when you purchase a new machine (not replacement batteries).
  • Oxygen concentrator and/or humidifier when you purchase a new CPAP machine.
  • CPAP masks.
  • CPAP replacement masks & machine repairs (annually if limits available).

Before you purchase or hire CPAP

  • Check that you have cover for Health Aids & Wellness as only our higher levels of cover have it (see Health Aids & Wellness table for coverage and benefits) 
  • We don’t pay any benefits for second-hand items.
  • A 2-month waiting period applies.
  • Limit resets every three financial years.
  • Purchase must come from a company with an Australian Business Number (an ABN).

How to claim CPAP machines and parts

1. Get a receipt with the following details
  • Patient name
  • Item details
  • Date the item was purchased or first date of hire
  • Price
  • Supplier name and ABN
2. Submit your receipt to claim

There are a number of ways to submit your receipt. Our page on extras claiming shows you how (see ‘How to make an extras claim’ 2 to 5 here).

 

Midwifery

Home Births - available on Premium & High Extras cover 

While most members have their babies in hospitals, Peoplecare has benefits for Medicare-registered midwives to deliver babies in the home. A 12-month waiting period applies for this extras service.

Start with your GP

Having a baby at home is an option for some people, but the health of you and your little bundle of joy are the most important thing. Please check with your doctor whether having a baby at home is right for you.

Are there public home birth options available?

Yes, there are a range of publicly-funded home birth places available. View the home birth programs available in Australia.

How much does a private home birth cost?

We recommend you get at a quote, called Informed Financial Consent, so that you know how much it will cost before you commit to a home birth.

Let’s take a $3,000 home birth bill as an example on our Premium Extras cover:

  • $3,000 private registered midwife charge
  • $700 Peoplecare benefit
  • $2,300 member out-of-pocket cost

The benefits for midwifery are under Health Aids & Wellness. See the table for details to check if you're covered. 

How to claim midwifery

1. Get a receipt with the following details
  • Patient name
  • Midwife name and provider details
  • Dates of sessions
  • Cost of sessions
2. Submit your receipt to claim

There are a number of ways to submit your receipt. Our page on extras claiming shows you how (see ‘How to make an extras claim’ 2 to 5 here).

 

Orthopaedic shoes and orthotics  

Orthopaedic shoes vs orthotics

Orthopaedic shoes are customised to your feet, whereas orthotics are the slip-in inserts for regular shoes. 

Who can treat foot problems?

Podiatrists can diagnose and treat foot conditions as well as sort out foot injuries and infections.

You don’t need a GP referral to see a podiatrist but if your foot problems are linked to a chronic health condition such as diabetes or arthritis, your GP can arrange for your podiatry to be covered by Medicare under a chronic disease management plan.

You can also get orthotics prescribed from a whole range of other health professionals such as a chiropractor, physiotherapist, bio mechanist, pedorthist and orthotist. 

Benefits for podiatry 

This benefit is paid from the  Podiatry  category. 

Peoplecare cover Initial consult Subsequent consults Limit per person Limit Per Family
Premium Extras $50 $40 $500 $1,00
High Extras $45 $35 $400 $800
Mid Extras $40 $30 $200 $400
Simple Extras N/A N/A N/A N/A

 

Details:

  • 2-month waiting period for podiatry 
  • limits reset every financial year 
  • only one initial consultation can be claimed per financial year 

Types of orthotics and why they matter 

Orthotics must be custom-made or heat-moulded and prescribed by a podiatrist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, bio mechanist, pedorthist or orthotist for us to pay on them. 

Orthotics Peoplecare benefit*
Custom made or heat moulded  Yes
Off the shelf  No

 

* On some Peoplecare extras covers. See table below.  

Those off-the-shelf inserts that you find at your local supermarket or chemist can’t be claimed on your extras cover. 

How to claim orthopaedic shoes and orthotics

1. Get a receipt with the following details
  • Patient name 
  • Item details 
  • Date the item was received 
  • Price 
  • Provider name and registration details  
2. Submit your receipt to claim

There are a number of ways to submit your receipt. Our page on extras claiming shows you how (see ‘How to make an extras claim’ 2 to 5 here). 

 

The benefits for health aids & wellness

This benefit is paid from the ‘Health Aids & Wellness’ limit category, which includes services such as CPAP, midwifery, equipment & custom orthotics and orthopaedic shoes.

Peoplecare cover Benefit Limit
Premium Extras 80% $700 (per person)
max $1,400 (per family)
High Extras 70% $500 (per person)
max $1,000 (per family)
Mid Extras N/A N/A
Simple Extras N/A N/A

Details: 

  • 2-month waiting period for Health Aids & Wellness 

Benefits payable for Orthotics:

  • claim limit of 1 pair of orthotics every two financial years
  • orthotics and orthopaedic must be prescribed and customised (we don’t pay on off-the-shelf products) 
  • Premium Extras 80% up to $200
  • High Extras 70% up to $150
  • Mid Extras N/A
  • Simple Extras N/A

Diabetics consumables

What Diabetic consumables are commonly claimed?

  • Glucose Testing Strips
  • Lancets
  • Sensors
  • ​​​​​​​Omnipod patches
  • Libre Freestyle - blood glucose monitor patches
  • Pen Needles and Syringes

 

Peoplecare cover Diabetic Consumables Benefit Limit Per Person Limit Per Family
Premium Extras 80% $700 Health Aids & Wellness $1,400 Health Aids & Wellness
High Extras 70% $500 Health Aids & Wellness $1,000 Health Aids & Wellness
Mid Extras NIL NIL NIL
Simple Extras NIL NIL NIL

How to claim diabetic consumables

1. Get a receipt with the following details
  • Patients name
  • supplier details 
  • item description
  • date and cost of item

2. Submit your receipt to claim.

There are a number of ways to submit your receipt. Our page on extras claiming shows you how (see ‘How to make an extras claim’ 2 to 5 here).